Can-filling machine.



No. 664,!42. Patented Dec. I8. I900;

F. B, FULTON. CAN FILLING-MACHINE.

(Application filed May 81, 1900.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES //v v- 70/? Fred Zia/Zion .ZL ZMM No. 664,|42. Patented Doc. l8, I900.-

. H F B. FULTON.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed May 81, 1900.)

(No Model.) 5 Shaats-Sheet 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOH fiedflzmzzow I 0% aw ATTORNEY n s4-n4z'; Patented Dec. |s,, |9oo.

FULTON.

CAN FILLING MACHINE. 1 (App1 icat ion filed May 31, 1900.; (No Mu dal.) 5 Sheets-Shae 3.

ll'1 II" g k A b l I I O W/TNESSES /NVENTOH fled 15.1%02507'0 OWX:

F. B. FULTON.

' Patented Dec 18, I900.

CAN FILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed may 81, 1900:)

(No Model.)

WITNESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4,

"Q Q w //v VENTOH ficdfilulion 4% ATTORNEY THE Nonms PETERS co wncYo-uma, WASHXNGTON. n. c.

Patented Dec. l8, I900.- I

F. B. FULTON.

CAN FiLLlNG MACHINE.

' (Application filed May 31, 1900.)

5 Shady-Sheet 5.

(N0. Model.)

INVENTO/Y WITN'ESSES TTOHN Tu: Nomus PETERS c0. mamuma, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

FRED BROWN FULTON, OFANACORTES, WASHINGTON.

CAN-FILLING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,142, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed May 31,1900. er al NO- 18,614, kNo model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED BROWN FULTON, a citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Anacortes, in the State of Washington,have invented a new and useful Can-Filling Machine, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for filling fish and like material into cans; and its object is to provide a machine that will fill a great number of cans in a short space of time, forming the fish in closable jaws mounted on a rotating drum and pushing it into the cans placed in holders in alinement with the jaws by pistons that are moved one stroke forward and back for each revolution of the drum or wheel, and thus filling a can from each set of jaws for each revolution of said drum. I attain this object by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation takenon the line a a in the direction of the arrow marked 01,. Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line b b; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line c viewed from the opposite side of the machine, as indicated by the arrow marked 1). This shows the cam and finger mechanism for gripping the cans while being filled. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan detail of the canholding fingers. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan detail of the jaws for forming the fish, showing one set open and one set closed, taken from the position where the fish is received. (See arrow 0.) Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the frame or wheel in which the jaws are mounted. This view is taken on the line cl d, which is between the opened movable jaws and the fixed one. Fig. 8 shows a diagramm atical end view of the cam-levers, the segment carrying and operating the jaws, and their relative positions with respect to the fixed cams immediately on the jaws being closed; and Fig. 9 shows a detail of the arrangement of the fishfeeding disks.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout all of the views.

The support for the machine preferably consists of a rectangular frame 10, having supporting-legs 11, the opposite side ones of which are tied and securely bolted together by bars 12,formingsupports for the driving mechanism of the machine, to be fully described hereinafter.

Suitably mounted in bearings 13 and 13, secured on the opposite sides of the frame 10, about the center thereof, is a stout shaft 14:. Securely mounted on this shaft 14 is a drum or wheel 15, composed at one end of a series of rims or disks at its periphery, as 15 15 15, and a large toothed disk or rim l5 at the other end. Passing around the said drum 15, between the toothed disk 15 and the rim 15, is a frame 16, having an irregular cam-track 16 therein, and this frame is securely bolted to the forward and rear sides of the frame by machine-bolts passing through apertures in lugs 16 and 16, respectively, and into the said frame 10. Arranged at regular intervals around the drum between the inner rim or disk are jaws 17 and 18. The jaws 18 are preferably cast integral with the inner rim 15 and the rim 15, (see Figs. 1 and 6,) and each alternate jaw 17 is fixed to alternate segments 19, lying on the concentric circle within the said jaws and having a limited movement for the opening and closing thereof, as will be better understood presently. The said segments are held in their proper concentric position by having flanges 19 on their outer sides, which rest against the inner walls of flanges 20 on the jaw sides of the disks 15 and 15, (see Fig. 7,) the jaws acting as a guide on the outer side of the flanges 20 and the flanges 19 as a guide to each segment on the other.

The aperture between the jaws, as shown in Fig. 3, is of cylindrical form and bored directly through the rims or disks 15 and 15, so that the material may be pushed therefrom into a can, and in alinement with each of these cylindrical openings in the jaws are can-seats 21 in the disks 15*, designed to receive and hold a can A while being filled and drop it on the rear side of the machine.

Arranged in each of the openings in the jaws and in alinement therewith is a piston 22, having a flat shank 22, passing through a like hole in the toothed disk 15 and secured on the outer side at a proper point of the said shank is an antifriction-roller 23, designed to follow the path of the cam 16 in the frame 16. This will at each revolution of the drum cause the piston 22 to move in and out of the opening in the closed jaws, the jaws being closed when this movement takes place. At a point in the cam-track 16 where the stroke of the piston is greatest said track suddenly curves outward, as 16, which causes the piston 22 to withdraw from the mouth of the can A, so that said can may be ejected from the machine at the proper point.

Arranged parallel to the shaft 14 and placed in a concentric circle therearound and in radial alinement with the jaws 17 and 18 when closed are rock-shafts 24, which are suitably supported by the hubs 25, 26, and 27 of the drum 15, the hubs and 27 being at each end of the drum and the hub 26 at its center beneath the jaws. Secured to the end of each of the rock-shafts 24 that projects through the hub 27 is a cam-lever 28, which is designed to engage an eccentrically-shaped cam 29, lying adjacent to one side of the shaft 14 and secured beneath the frame 10 by a bracket 29, and secured on said rockshaft 24, adjacent to the hub 26, in direct right-angled alinement with its respective segment 19 and approximately at right angles to the lever 28 is a segment-lever 30, having teeth 30 thereon which engage like teeth in the segment 19, as 19. (See Figs. 3 and 8.)

As better illustrated in Figs. 3, 6, and 7, each alternate segment-lever 30 is placed in direct alinement to engageits respective segment 19, so that one will cross the other when the consecutive jaws are held in an open and a closed position. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The pitch of the teeth 19 on the segment is struck from the axis of the shaft 14; but the pitch of the segment-teeth 30 is struck from the axis of its shaft 24, so that as the segmentlever 30 is moved back and forth the segment 19 will move concentric to the shaft 14 with the same engagement of the teeth at any position, and secured at the opposite end of each of the rock shafts 24, that projects through the hub 25, is a cam-lever 31, which is placed at about the same radial position as the lever 28 and is designed to engage a slideway on the inner side of a casting 32, fixed at the opposite end of the machine.

As better shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the casting 32 is secured to the end and side of the machine-bed by lugs 32 and 32 respectively, it being a widened portion of the casting that forms the slideway for the ends of the levers 31 at even radii from the axis of the shaft 14. This holds the jaws in a closed position during their passage over the upper side of the machine. The inner side of the casting 32 forms two segments of a circle of different radii, as 32, the top half and 32 the bottom portion, which are connected by webs 32 and 32 on each side, which segments are the cams for operating the mechanism to be described presently.

Suitably secured on the forward side of the machine-bed 10 in a recess 10 and in alinement with the jaws 18 and 17 is a frame 33, the lower part of which extends downward close to the periphery of the wheel, as'33, forming the bottom of a sloping chute 33 for introducing the fish to the jaws. The upper side is curved downward, and the inner side 33 is planed oif vertical. To this planed portion is secured a chisel-edged knife 34, the plane side of which rests tangentially against the outer side of the passing jaws. This is to cut off any overhanging pieces of fish that are received between the jaws. The knife 34 may be adjusted up or down or set tighter against the movingjaw-faces by means of the set-screws 35 and 36, the set-screws 35 being to hold the knife and the set-screws 36 being to hold its edge in the desired position, so as to make a clean cut.

The fish is cut in pieces a trifle shorter than the length of the cans to be filled, and it is placed transversely on the belt 37, taking around the pulley 38, which is secured on a shaft 39, suitably journaled in bearings 40 and 41, secured to the side of the frame 10, whence it is delivered into the chute 33 to be scooped up by the open jaws, as shown in Fig. 3.

42 indicates an inclined chute into which the cans are placed, and as the drum rotates one is taken up by each set of can-seats 21 that come around. The jaw 17 is held back by the lever 28 engaging the cam 29 until the chute 33 is reached; but as such jaw comes to the knife 34 the said lever 28 will have passed the lowest point on the cam 29, when the lever 31 will engage the lower end of the cam-track 32, as 32 which will stop such end of lever until the jaw is closed, when it will move around to the point 32 where the lever is freed and the jaw is once more forced open. (See Figs. 2, 3, and 4.)

The contacting edges of the jaws are comparatively sharp, so that when forced together they will cut off all the fleshy matter that may project over, excepting the tough skin of the fish, which is pared off by the fixed knife 34, and toinsure that the jaws are forced and held securely together by a pressure of the levers 31 the track 32 for the levers is so placed that the same would not enter thereon without some device to lift their ends up, but would catch the curved toes 31 thereof under the sloped end 32 and stop the machine. To obviate this, I provide a rotating cam 43, secu red on a shaft 44 in the path of the depending ends of the levers. This cam 43 is moving in an opposite direction to the levers 31, and each alternate lifting-cam is in the path of each alternate lever, so that one only will be lifted at once, the levers being joggled over in the same manner as the segment-levers 30 to avoid interference and allow free movement.

As shown in Fig. 4, when the toe 31 comes beneath the portion 32 the jaw will be closed and the lifting of the lever to the slideway by the cam 43 will strain such jaws tight, when the slideway will hold the jaws in such posi tion until the point 32 is reached.

From'the foregoing it is seen that the closing movement of the jaws is very sudden just at the point before the knife is reached, and the full closing strain is attained at the same time, which materially assists in cutting'off the overhanging portions.

In Fig. 3 it is shown that-there are spaces 19 between the segments 19 (there being four on each side) toallow for the movement thereof for the opening and closing of the jaws; but

such segments must be so placed, as shown,

that the openings 19 will be closed at the point where the fish is received. Otherwise when the jaw closes it would squeeze fragments into the opening and cause serious difficulty.

The faces of the jaws when closed present a smooth periphery on which the knife 34 slides, paring off anything that may not already be cut off by the jaws, so that a complete cylinder of fish is formed.

As the jaws close the material is prevented from being pressed out of each end thereof by the plunger 22, lying in the opening in the rim on one side, and a thin dividing-plate 42 being on the side of the can-chute 42 and which projects into the annular groove between the rims 15 and 15. (See Fig. 1.) This plate 42 forms an end for the cylinderopening of the jaws until the point is reached where such jaws are closed and the piston 22 begins to move forward.

Secured to a pin or bar 45, suitably journaled in the rims or disks l5" beneath each of the can-seats 21 therein, are crescent-shaped fingers 46, which with the can-seats 21 form secure and positive holders for the cans A while passing over the machine. (See Figs. 4 and 5.) These fingers 46 are closed and opened by the rocking of the bar 45, and the rocking movement is attained 'by a tumblinglever 47, secured on the outer end of the bar, which projects through the outer disk 15 and a thickened portion 48 thereon. Limited movement is given to the lever 47 by a pin 49 in one of the trail ends thereof, which rests in a notch 4 8 when engaged by the cam 32, which holds the fingers in a closed position and lies in the notch 48 when the fingers are held open-that is, when the lower cam 32 is engaged. As illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4, the fingers are closed when a can has been taken into the seat 21 by the angle of the lever 47, which carries the pin 49, engaging the lower end of the upper cam 32, as 32 and when it comes to the opposite side of the machine the conveXed side of the lever will leave the cam 32 and the depending end thereof, as 47, will engage the end of the cam 32 which will cause the fingers to be thrown open, the thick ends thereof pushing out the can, which will rolldown the chute 50, and the concaved surface of the lever will follow around the surface of the cam 32, holding the fingers open until the point 32 is again reached.

Suitably mounted in bearings 51, supported by the cross-ties 12 of the frame, is a shaft 52,

to which is fixed a pinion 53, engaging the toothed rim 15 of the drum, and this pinion 53 also engages a like pinion 54, fixed on the shaft 44, on which is mounted the lifting-cam 43 at the opposite ends. Movement is imparted to the shaft 52, and consequently to the drum 15, by abelt 55 taking arounda pulley 56, secured on the opposite end thereof, (see Fig. 1,) and the diametrical relation of the pinions 53 and 54 and the toothed rim 15 'is such that the said pinions make fourrevolutions for each revolution of the drum, as I have such drum carrying eight sets of jaws, there being four levers 31, which close the same in the path of each of the lifting-cams 43, before mentioned. This causes an alternate lever 31 to be lifted for each half-revolution of the cam, and thereby the jaws are closed at their proper position and the levers 28 open all of said jaws as they pass beneath the machine.

From Figs. 2 and 8 it is shown that the pi voted ends of the levers 28 must pass behind the lower side of the fixed cam 29, and as the outer ends of said levers must travel over the outer side of the cam it is necessary to project such outer ends laterally outward, as 28.

Movement is imparted to the shaft 39 by a belt 57 taking around a pulley 58 on the outer end thereof and round a like pulley on the relative end of the shaft 44.

Mounted in suitable bearings 59 and 60, secured to the forward part of the machine, is a shaft 61, having its inner end over the frame 33, and secured on the end over said frame are disks 62, the rims of which are provided with serrations projecting through slots in the upper part of the frame to within the chute for the fish. The teeth of these disks 62 are designed to engage the cut fish and force it into the chute. To provide for the-inequalities of the upper surface of the fish on the belts 37 and cause the disks to roll over the same without cutting into it, I pass the shaft through a vertical movable bearingb-lock 63, mounted ina slot 60 in the hearing 60, having a pin 64 fixed to its top, which passes loosely through an aperture in the said bearing, and a spring 65, coiled on said pin, interposed between the block 63 and the top of the slot, normally keeps the disks down against the fish. mounted on the shaft 61 that under an excessive pressure they will stop turning, and thus avoid cutting the fish. This is accomplished by the inner flange 62, against which the inner disk 62 rests, being fixed to the shaft 61, the center distance-sleeve 62 and the outer flange 62 being loose, and a coil-spring 62 resting against such outer flange and held thereon by a nut 62 on the end of the shaft, which may be screwed up to regulate the tension required to hold the disks. (See Fig. 9.)

Movement is imparted to the shaft 61 by a sprocket-belt 66, taking around a sprocket- The said disks 62 are so wheel fixed on the outer end thereof and a like wheel secured on the end of the driveshaft 52. (See Fig. 1.)

In the practical operation of my invention the machine is set in motion in the direction of the arrow and the cans are placed on their sides in the chute 4:2, with their open ends toward the frame 33, whence they will roll against the rims or disks 15 and as each can-seat 21 therein comes up a can will be taken therein. The fish, as before stated, is cut into pieces transversely of a length a little shorter than the cans being filled and placed on the belt 37 crosswise thereoflwhence it is delivered into the chute 33, and as each set of open jaws come around they will scoop up the fish, will close, and the overhanging pieces will be cut off by the knife 34. The piston will now move forward, pushing the material into the can that is held in its seat by the fingers 46, and as the point 16 in the canrtrack 16 is reached by the roller 23, operating the piston within the respective jawchamber, it is suddenly withdrawn, and at this point the depending end of the lever 47, as 47, will engage the end of the cam 32 when the fingers 46 will open and the filled can will be ejected into the chute 50, whence it will be delivered to where the cap is applied, and as the machine completes the revolution the piston is withdrawn to allow another charge of material to be received between the jaws.

As shown in the views Figs. 2, 3, and 4, I have not illustrated the full number of parts operating the jaws 17 and 18, the object of this being to avoid confusion and to more clearly illustrate the full working of the machine. The parts may be duplicated any reasonable number of times, or a machine may be constructed having only one or more sets of jaws, with their auxiliary mechanism for operating the same and the can, it being obvious that each set of jaws, with the mechanism for operating same and the can-holder and piston, constitutes a complete operation. Therefore the manifolding of same is a mere matter of detail in the construction.

A decided advantage my invention holds over other machines designed to perform work of its class is that by reason of the slow and regular movement of the pistons the material is pushed comparatively slowly into the cans, which gives ample time for the air to escape therefrom without forcing the material backward, and at the same time the machine is a rapid worker on account of more than one piston being moved forward at once.

Having now described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a machine for filling cans, a drum or wheel secured on an axle or shaft 14 mounted in suitable bearings, molding-jaws 18 and 17 mounted on the periphery of the drum and approximately at its center, such jaws being fixed and movable respectively, a toothed segment 19 secured to the inner side of the jaw 17 designed to move for a distance concentric to the axle 14, a rock-shaft 24 mounted in the hubs of the drum in radial alinement with the axle and said jaws, a segmental toothed lever 30 secured on such rock-shaft engaging the toothed segment 19, a lever 28 secured on one end of the rock-shaft 24 placed at right angles to the lever 30 and designed to engage a cam 29 fixed to the frame 10, a lever 31 fixed to the opposite end of the said rock-shaft in about the same radial alinement as the lever 28, a fixed track 32 to engage the outer end of the lever 31, and a lifting-cam 43 for lift ing the levers 31 to such track, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. A series of disks 15, 15 15 and 15 forming a drum 15 mounted on a shaft or axle 14 supported at each end on asuitable frame 10, a series of jaws l8 and 17, fixed and movable respectively between the inner disk 15 and the disk or rim 15, the face of said jaws being flush with the periphery of said drum, pistons 22 in the cylindrical openings between the jaws, having flat stems thereon taking through fiat apertures in the disk or rim 15, a fixed frame 16 forming an irregular camtrack around the drum between the vertical circle occupied by the jaws on the rim 15 and antifriction-rollers 23 mounted on the outer sides of the stems taking in the camtraek, means for opening the jaws as they pass beneath the machine and for closing them while passing over the upper side thereof, and a chisel-shaped knife 3e fixed with its edge tangent to the periphery of the drum occupied by the said jaws at the point where such jaws are closed, substantially as specified.

3. A drum 15 mounted on an axle 14, composed of rims or disks 15215", 15 and 15, said rim 15 having a toothed periphery, fixed and movable jaws mounted at regular intervals between the rim 15 and the inner rim 15, the movable jaw being designed to move open and shut on a concentric circle to the axis of the drum, substantially for the purposes set forth.

4. A drum 15 constructed as specified, fixed and movable jaws arranged at intervals around the periphery of the drum, toothed segments 19 fixed to the loose jaws for moving such jaws open and shut, and flanges 19 on the outer sides of the segments for holding the jaws in their proper position while being moved in a concentric circle, as set forth.

5. A drum 15 mounted on an axle 14 composed of rims or disks on its periphery which are connected with hubs 25, 26 and 27 secured to said axle, at intervals, fixed jaws 18 at regular intervals around the central periphery of the drum-and integral with two of the disks which form end pieces for such jaws, jaws 17 integral with toothed segments having retaining-fl an ges on the inner sides thereof, said segi'nents being placed alternately in concentric alinement with each other; rockshafts 24 mounted in the said hubs concentrically around the axis thereof and in radial alinement with the jaws toothed segment-levers 30, fixed on such shafts designed to engage the teeth in the segments of the jaws, and means for rocking the shafts back and forth, substantially as specified.

6. A drum 15 of the construction described fixed to an axle 14 mounted in aframe 10, fixed and movable forming-jaws arranged in a concentric circle around the central periphery of the drum, and means for opening and closing same during each revolution thereof, canseats 21 arranged in alinement with the openings of the jaws on one side thereof designed to hold a can of the-diameter and approximate length of the jaws with its open end toward the jaws; pistons 22 arranged on the opposite side of the jaws and in alinement therewith, flat stems 22 on said pistons, and rollers thereon designed to take along a fixed irregular cam-track-during the revolution of the drum, as and for the purposes specified;

7. In a machine for the purposes specified, a drum 15 mounted on an axle 14'journaled in a suitable frame 10, forming-jaws 17 and 18 arranged at regular intervals around the central periphery of the drum, rock-shafts mounted in a concentric circle around the hub of the drum, segmental toothed levers 3O fixed on such rock-shafts and contacting with toothed segments on the inner sides of the movable jaws; levers 28 fixed on one end of the rock-shafts at about right angles to the radial line of the levers 30, a cam 29 fixed to the frame arranged in the path of the ends of the levers 28; levers 31 fixed on the opposite ends of the rock-shafts 24; a frame 32 fixed to such end of the frame 10 forming a slideway 32for the ends of the said levers, a cam 43 mounted on a shaft 44 beneath the track of the outer ends of the levers 31 designed to lift the ends of the levers 31 to the track in the frame 32, substantially for the purposes set forth.

8. In a can-filling machine having a drum composed of rims or disks 15, 15 15 and 15 on its periphery rotatably mounted on an axle in bearings fixed to a suitable frame 10, a shaft 52 parallel to the axis of the drum and mounted in bearings 51 beneath such drum, a pinion 53 engaging teeth in the periphery of the rim 15 and engaging a like pinion 54 fixedly mounted on a shaft 44 parallel to the shaft 52; rock-shafts 24' mounted around the hub of thedrum,segmental toothed levers 30 secured about the center of such rock-shafts and engaging slidable segments ends of the levers 31 to the slideway 32 in a frame 32, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. A drum 15 having jaws arranged at intervals around the central periphery thereof, rock-shafts parallel to and concentrically around its axis in radial alinement with the jaws, segmental gear-lever communication between the jaws and the rock-shafts, means for moving such levers so that the jaws are opened, levers having'toes 31 secured at the end of the rock-shafts, a slideway 32 having an under sloped end 32 integral'with a frame 32 in the path of the loose" ends of the said levers, and a cam 43 fixed on a shaft 44 beneath the drum designed to move in opposite direction to said drum and in the path of the loose ends of the levers, whereby the same will be lifted up to the slideway when the toes thereof engage the portion 32 and thus close the jaws quickly and tightly.

10. In a machine for filling fish into cans, a

drum 15 having a periphery formed with a series of rims 15 15", 15 and 15, jaws 18 and 17 fixed and movable respectively, located at regular intervals around such periphery between the rims 15 and theinner rim 15"; pistons 22'lying in the cylindrical openings between the jaws when closed, fiat stems 22 on such pistons passing through fiat apertures in the rim 15 rollers 23 on the outer sides of the stems and an irregular cam-track 16 in which the rollers 23 move, and a sudden outward turn in such track 16 for the sudden slight withdrawal of the pistons at the point where such pistons are pushed beyond the opposite ends of the jaw-opening, substantially for the purposes specified.

11. In combination with an inclined chute 42 for the delivery of cans, and a chute 33 for the delivery of fish or other like material at one side of a frame 10, a drum 15 having an axle 14 suitably journaled in hearings on said frame, jaws arranged around the periphery of the drum, and when open made to communicate with the lower part of said chute, of can-holders 21 arranged in the rims 15 in alinement with the jaw-openings, pistons designed to move in the openings between the jaws, and crescent-shaped fingers designed to close on the cans and hold them while, the pistons are moving forward, as set forth.

12. In a drum l5 composed of rims15, 15, 15 and 15 on its periphery, can-seats 21 in the-rims 15 crescent-shaped fingers 46 secured to bars or shafts journaled in the rims 15* just beneath the can-seats, tumblinglevers 47 secured to the outer ends of the bars 45, a cam-track 32 on the fixed frame 32 around beneath the upper part of said frame, and a cam-track 32 beneath thelower part of the frame to engage two angles of the tumbling-levers, substantially for the purposes specified.

13. In a machine for filling cans having a drum provided with forming-jaws therein,

IIO

and can-holders 21, designed to engage onehalf the periphery of a can; holding-fingers 46 pivoted on bars 45 beneath the seat-s for the cans, tumbling-levers 17 secured on the outer ends of the bars, having convexed surfaces to engage a fixed cam 32 concentric with the axis of the drum and on the .upper sides thereof, and concaved surfaces to engage a cam 32 pitched in a similar manner but at a different radius near the lower side of said drum, and means for turning the lever from one surface to the other for the purposes specified.

14. In combination with can-seats 21 in a rotatable drum composed on its surface of rims 15, 15", 15 and 15, crescent-shaped fingers secured to bars 45 beneath such seats tumbling-levers 47 fixed on the projecting ends of the bars, pins 19 secured in one of the trail ends of the levers, stops 43 secured on the outer sides of the outer rim 15, and seats 48 and 48 in the opposite ends of the stops to receive the pins 49, substantially for the purposes specified.

15. In a machine for filling cans, in combination with a drum 15 mounted on a frame 10 having a series of forming-jaws at regular intervals around the central periphery of the same, the face of said jaws coming fiush with such periphery, a chute in alinement with the jaws fixed on the forward side of the frame with its tapered spout terminating against the path of the jaws, a knife 34 secured with its cutting edge tangent to the face of the path of said jaws, means for rotating the drum in such direction as to open the jaws on the under side of the machine, and for closing them when a pointjust beneath the knife is reached, for the purposes specified.

16. In combination with a machine for filling cans, a rotatable drum 15 arranged to turn on a suitable frame 10, having a series of forming-jaws at regular intervals around its periphery, a chute 33 contacting with the path of such jaws, a belt 37 taking around a pulley 38 secured on a shaft 39 for delivering out fish into the chute, serrated disks 62 secured on the shaft 61 arranged in the upper side of the said chute, means for imparting movement to the drums carrying the jaws, to the belt 37 and to the disks 62, substantially for the purposes set forth.

17. In a machine of the class described, having a frame 10, a rotatable drum 15 suitably mounted to turn in said frame, jaws 18 and 17 fixed and movable respectively, arranged at regular intervals around the central periphery of the drum, spaces between the sets of jaws for the movement of the jaws 17, a chute 33 in a frame 33 for delivering the material to the jaws on one side of the machine, a knife 34L with its edge downward tangent to the periphery of the jaws, means for opening the jaws and holding them so until the mouth of the chute is reached, and for closing the same while the knife is held against the loose jaw whereby no material can pass to the space between the sets of jaws, but must pass to the forming-space between the jaws.

18. In a machine for filling fish into cans, a drum 15 suitably mounted to turn in a frame 10, sets of jaws arranged at intervals around the central periphery, and a chute 33 for in troducing fish to the jaws while in an open position, and means for closing said jaws, in combination with a fixed knife 34 with its edge placed tangent to the periphery of the drum caused by the faces of the jaws, and at a point Where the jaws are closed, substantially as specified.

19. A cutting-knife 34 for the purposes set forth, having a chisel edge, and slots therein by which means it may be adjusted and secured in its proper position, in combination with a series of forming-jaws 17 and 18 mon nted in a rotatable drum, the face sides of which lie against the cutting edge of the knife,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

- FRED BROW'N FULTON.

Witnesses:

LANCE BURDON, W. G. BEARD. 

